Inside the New York Yankees clubhouse with MLB.com beat writer Bryan Hoch.

Girardi: “This is a pretty important game for us tonight”

The Yankees have lost their first two games at home for the first time since 1982, a stat they’ll try to do away with tonight by looking to salvage the final game of a three-game series with the Red Sox.

“I don’t think anyone wants it to go too far, no matter who you have in that clubhouse,” manager Joe Girardi said. “I don’t think you ever want to get off to where you feel like you dig yourself a hole. I think this is a pretty important game for us tonight. I don’t think it’s a do-or-die game for us, but I think it’s important.”

If you have to be in an 0-2 hole to begin the season, there’s at least some comfort in knowing that Andy Pettitte is a reliable option on the mound. Pettitte is making his first April start since the 2010 season tonight, since he was retired for the ’11 campaign and was working toward returning to the big leagues at this time last year.

“It’s real nice because he has been in so many big situations,” Girardi said. “Andy has pitched in games that were must-win situations or as close to it as possible. You don’t worry about his emotions going into tonight that you might worry about if you have a young pitcher on the mound.”

5 Comments

How many times since the late 1990’s when the Yankees have needed a GREAT start have they turned to #46 and gotten it? Once again proving he is one of the, if not THE greatest starter in NY Yankee history. I know that’s saying a lot. IF Andy is NOT a HOF I don’t know who is. NO question about it, as far as I am concerned.

Pettitte a HOF’er? Not likely, his numbers don’t even come close to justifying his induction into the HOF. He’s only won 18+ games in a season only four times in his career which is pretty mediocre for a pitcher who should be a HOF’er, and been an All star only three times in his career, also pretty mediocre. only reason he has won as many games as he has is due to longevity and you can say he is pushing it considering he has failed to stay healthy for an entire season in each of the past three seasons. Only real positive that is going for him is his 19 victories in the post season. What else has he really accomplished other than that? He has never won a Cy Young, thrown a no-hitter, won an ERA Title, won an MVP Title, etc. etc. etc.

PEttitte hasn’t really accomplished anything that would turn heads other than win 19 games in post season. A player needs to accomplish far more than that to get into the HOF. Don’t need to water down that place of honor with “good” players when it is meant for “Great” players.

Proper pitching by Andy P. It sure is nice to know that when the Yanks need a win, he is still there. Appreciate it, because watching him pitch is like watching Whitey Ford or Ron Guidry work—–true Yankees legends.

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